Highlights of Eastern Europe

Enjoy a 14 day regional European tour including the emotive recollection of World War II in Warsaw and Berlin, the beauty & musical connections of Prague and the grandeur of Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna as well as the views over the Danube in Budapest. Tour price from A$3499.

Excursions and Sights

* Views of Budapest from Gellért Hill & visit Matthias Church (Mátyás Templom) 

* See Roman Aquincum
* See Budapest's Parliament from the Fisherman's bastion (Halász Bástya) & visit Heroes' Square (Hõsök Tere)
* See Slovakia's traditional wooden houses & picturesque Oravsky Hrad Castle
* Visit Krakow's Cloth Hall in the town square & the courtyard of Jagiellonian University
* See the trumpeter in the tower of St Mary's Church & visit Wawel Cathedral in Krakow
* See the Black Madonna in the Jasna Gora Monastery
* Visit Poznan's Old Town Square
* Visit the Chopin Memorial, Ghetto memorial and reconstructed Old Town in Warsaw
* See Berlin's Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Opera House

* See Dresden's reconstructed Frauenkirche, Cathedral, Zwinger Palace & Opera House
* Admire the 'Procession of Dukes' mosaic on the Saxon wall of the castle in Dresden
* Visit St Vitus' Cathedral in Prague Castle & the Astronomical Clock in the Town Square
* Visit to medieval Cesky Krumlov Old Town and views of the castle
* See the Hofburg, Parliament, Opera House & St Charles' Church in Vienna
* Scenic Drives - Tatra Mountains, Erzgebirge Mountains
* Guided City Tours
In depth sightseeing tours with local guides in Budapest, Krakow, Warsaw,Berlin, Prague & Vienna.
Orientation tours in Poznan, Dresden & Cesky Krumlov

Tour Inclusions

• Hotels The hotels on this tour are all of modern design offering all usual comforts. The fully refurbished Vienna Hilton is simply beautiful, while the Sheraton in Krakow has a spectacular glass roofed atrium lobby.
• Escorted by a professional Tour Director
• Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with onboard toilet
• First Class hotels with all service charges, taxes and porterage
• Complimentary arrival transfer on Day 1 and departure transfer on Day 14
• Highlight Dinner with gypsy music in Budapest
• 13 Buffet Breakfasts and 7 three-course table d'hote Dinners, or Buffets, plus tea or coffee
• Travel bag, document wallet, map book journal and information pack
  

Tour Itinerary

DAY 1 – VIENNA AT LEASURE
Welcome to Vienna! Complimentary transfers depart from Vienna Airport to the tour hotel. Relax or explore this afternoon. Why not take a stroll through the leafy Stadtpark to see the gilded statue of Strauss? Tonight, join your fellow travellers for a Welcome Drink.

Hotel: Crowne Plaza/Hilton/Sofitel.

DAY 2 – VIENNA – BUDAPEST
Today we follow the Danube Valley through rural farmland to vibrant Budapest. On arrival, we view the spectacular bridges across the Danube from Gellert Hill. Later, we visit Matthias Church and admire the views of the ornate Parliament from the Fisherman's Bastion. Then we visit Heroes' Square in Pest. Tonight, we enjoy a special highlight evening of Hungarian music and cuisine.

Hotel: Sofitel/Danubius Grand Margitsziget. (BB,HD)

DAY 3 – SZENTENDRE EXCURSION
We enjoy some time at leisure this morning before driving past the remains of the Roman settlement of Aquincum to the picturesque riverside village of Szentendre, with its brightly coloured houses and quaint churches. There's time to browse the shops and cobbled streets before we return to Budapest. (BB,D)

DAY 4 – BUDAPEST – KRAKOW
A gentle drive today into Slovakia and through the breathtaking Tatra Mountains, where peasants still live in traditional wooden houses. We see the picturesque Oravsky Hrad Castle, then we cross into Poland and continue to historic Krakow.

Hotel: Sheraton. (BB,D)

DAY 5 – KRAKOW SIGHTSEEING
We tour historic Krakow with a local guide - for centuries the seat of Poland's kings! We ascend Wawel Hill, with its castle and legendary dragon, to visit the cathedral. Then we walk through the Old Town, past the courtyard of Jagiellonian University and Cloth Hall to visit the 14th century St Mary's Church. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for the trumpeter in the tower! (BB)

DAY 6 – KRAKOW – WARSAW
This morning we make a rather sombre visit with a local guide to the Auschwitz concentration camp and we see nearby Birkenau. Then north to Czestochowa to visit the 14th century Monastery of Jasna Gora, famous for the Black Madonna, said to have been painted by St Luke. We continue across the Polish Plains to Poland's capital, Warsaw.

Hotel: Sheraton Hotel and Towers/Hilton. (BB,D)

DAY 7 – WARSAW SIGHTSEEING
Warsaw was almost totally destroyed during WWII and it was only the detail in Canaletto's paintings of the city that allowed the authentic reconstruction we see today. On our guided tour, we see the 'wedding cake' Palace of Culture and the Chopin Memorial in the Lazienki Park. We also pay our respects at the emotive Monument of the Ghetto Heroes and finally, we see the reconstructed Old Town, including the Royal Palace. As night falls, why not enjoy a special Chopin concert? (BB,D)

DAY 8 – WARSAW – BERLIN
We leave Warsaw this morning and head over the fertile plains to the historic river port of Poznan. There's time for lunch in the charming Old Town Square before we cross the German frontier at the River Oder on our way to the capital, Berlin.

Hotel: Concorde. (BB)

DAY 9 – BERLIN & POTSDAM SIGHTSEEING
Today a local expert, shows us the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag; Germany's Parliament building. We drive along Unter den Linden, past the State Opera House and Alexanderplatz. This afternoon we enjoy a highlight excursion to historic Potsdam to visit the Cecilienhof, where the 1945 Treaty was signed. We also visit the Gardens of Frederick the Great's Sans Souci Palace. Tonight, why not enjoy an evening out in a lively local restaurant? (BB)

DAY 10 – BERLIN – PRAGUE
Today we drive south to Dresden. A walking tour here shows us the Frauenkirche, now rising once again from wartime destruction. We also see the Castle of the Electors of Saxony, including the unique Saxon Wall overlaid with Meissen tiles and the courtyards of the Zwinger Palace and the Opera House. After some free time, we continue over the border to the Czech Republic, and to its capital, Prague.

Hotel: Diplomat/Crowne Plaza. (BB,D)

DAY 11 – PRAGUE SIGHTSEEING
Prague has blossomed since the 'Velvet Revolution', but its unique character remains unchanged. On our guided tour today we visit the amazing St Vitus' Cathedral set inside the 1,000 year old Prague Castle. We also walk to the spectacular Old Town Square with its incredible Astronomical Clock. Tonight, why not enjoy some of Prague's exciting night life? (BB,D)

DAY 12 – PRAGUE – VIENNA
Leaving Prague, we enjoy a delightful drive through the green Bohemian countryside. We stop in medieval Cesky Krumlov, with its ancient town and Renaissance castle on either side of the River Vltava. After some free time to explore, we return to Vienna.

Hotel:Hilton/Sofitel. (BB)

DAY 13 – VIENNA SIGHTSEEING
With our expert local guide we venture inside the glorious State Apartments of Schönbrunn Palace! Time also to admire the gardens and Gloriette, before we see the baroque St Charles' Church. We drive around the famous 'Ring' passing the Opera House, the Hofburg Imperial Residence and Parliament. This afternoon is at leisure. Tonight, why not enjoy a farewell dinner? (BB)

DAY 14 – VIENNA
Our tour ends today with a complimentary transfer from your tour hotel to Vienna Airport. (BB)